skirtcafe.org

Skirt Cafe is an on-line community dedicated to exploring, promoting and advocating skirts and kilts as a fashion choice for men, formerly known as men in skirts. We do this in the context of men's fashion freedom --- an expansion of choices beyond those commonly available for men to include kilts, skirts and other garments. We recognize a diversity of styles our members feel comfortable wearing, and do not exclude any potential choices. Continuing dialog on gender is encouraged in the context of fashion freedom for men. See here for more details.

I have been quite happily dressing as a " Man in a skirt " for years....My latest style this summer has been the " Man in a Traditional Summer Skirt "I found some traditional summer dresses in my collection recently and thought they might be fresh and cool to wear with a male sports jacket or Argyll Kilt Jacket.

I do have my reservations regarding this move as when I am standing at a Counter being served by my female friends they can only see my male top half and not my skirt...which they now know I always wear......when I stand at a counter they will see that under my male jacket I am wearing something different which is not normal male above the waist attire.....Perhaps I am unduly concerned regarding this possible change in the unusual style of my " man in a skirt attire ".....

One of my concerns is that I might be seen as a cross dresser rather than a " Man in a Skirt "...... Has anyone been down this road ? ..... weeladdie

weeladdie18 wrote:...I found some traditional summer dresses in my collection recently and thought they might be fresh and cool to wear with a male sports jacket or Argyll Kilt Jacket...One of my concerns is that I might be seen as a cross dresser rather than a " Man in a Skirt "...

I can empathize, as I've accumulated several dresses on in my closet and haven't worn any of them visibly in public yet.

No guts, I suppose; a dress just seems like a big step beyond skirts. I should just do it and get over it.

Which is the same advice I'd give you: just do it and get over it. The jacket will partially hide the fact that it's a dress.

Dresses just seems to be the next step. I wear skirts just about anywhere. I have been a little more selective in going places in a dress.

It seems that I wear nothing but dresses around the house. Its so easy, you get up throw on a dress and you are set.

I have worn dresses out but on a limited basis. Mainly to house parties where my wearing skirts is a known factor.

I have started wearing dresses to do errands mostly just trips to the bank and deli etc. I did have one extended trip to a shopping mall in a dress but that was rather late at night and the place was not crowded.

It is going to take a little more nerve and time to feel as free about dresses as I do with skirts. I'll revisit that comment in a year.

When I first got involved with the café one of the members said if you are in for a penny you are in for a pound.

Certainly it does make sense to wear a comfortable dress with no zip or buttons at home. ...perhaps this is the next sensible move.....my rear garden has a high fence and is not overlooked by other peoples windows.....I did purchase these garments as they felt comfortable to wear...weeladdie

weeladdie18 wrote:Certainly it does make sense to wear a comfortable dress with no zip or buttons at home. ...perhaps this is the next sensible move.....my rear garden has a high fence and is not overlooked by other peoples windows.....I did purchase these garments as they felt comfortable to wear...weeladdie

Thank you for your advice gentlemen, I bit the bullet today and went out wearing my below the knee shift dress with no buttons and no zip , today.Worn with my short green Argyll Kilt Jacket, a male waist belt supporting a Drovers Pouch Sporran and a pair of white turned down ankle socks.

No one noticed or passed comment on my new style of attire.....I now feel it is acceptable for a man to wear a dress if it looks as if he is wearing a dress with a male style pattern.....what ever that is.....Beautifully light and cool for the hot summer weather ..... as we all say....." Just go for It " ......weeladdie

I went shopping in a small Scottish fishing village that somehow supports two high end ladies' boutiques. I decided to wear a skirt and neutral T top with flat women's sandals and bare legs. I tried on four dresses in one of the shops and decided to buy a short sky blue linen one. I then asked if I could change into it and wear it out of the shop. They said of course, but seemed concerned about how I would get on in the cold wind! It was the first time I had worn a dress in public without disguising myself as a woman (I am also a crossdresser) and as with a skirt there were no reactions. I didn't get any reaction from the sales staff in either shop - they were perfectly nice and helpful to me. And it wasn't too cold in the linen dress.

I've been wearing dresses, especially short dresses in public like city parks, downtown areas and shopping malls a good deal of late. The only time I wear a jacket is when it's chilly out, not a problem in July and now August, so there's no mistaking what I happen to be wearing for the world to see, and I don't care one bit if people see me as a crossdresser. So what? I do what I like, I wear what I like, and that's the important thing.

"Summer" dresses were the last bar for me. Although I had a couple at home that I would occasionally wear round the house I always felt that if I went out in them I would definitely look like I was trying to emulate a woman. I was always happy to wear jumper dresses though.... after all it's just like a long jumper. These days, like Jeff and quite a few others here, I'm really not bothered if people think I'm a cross-dresser. People that know me, no longer "see" the clothes.

SkirtsDad wrote:These days, like Jeff and quite a few others here, I'm really not bothered if people think I'm a cross-dresser. People that know me, no longer "see" the clothes.

The same holds true for complete strangers. Yesterday, I wore a black v-neck dress (see below) to a local casino and spent a solid twenty minutes at the bar yakking about baseball with a fellow who never took notice of what I wore.

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Our summer temperature has dropped from 30 C to 25 C and even lower. The lassies have cast off their summer dresses and skirts and returned to their trousers....Perhaps the female in skirts is controlled by the temperature of the local climate. Perhaps a higher summer temperature affects the style of clothes the female wears.

I have broken the barrier and successfully worn a dress out in the wild... I would agree that putting on and taking off a dress can be difficult.I have found that a loose fitting shift dress two sizes too large for me Is comfortable and practical to wear under a male jacket.For these reasons ,I do not feel the shift dress will be taking over my wardrobe . .............. weeladdie

I mostly wear dresses, all kinds of dresses, including florals, though not ruffled but only one tiered and that doesn't include the bodice. No one has treated me as anything but a man.

I have had a few people double check how I identify myself, but only because they were trying to be considerate.

The first time I wore an evening gown to an event, the organizer thanked me for wearing it because she was trying to raise its formality and felt I was setting the fashion pace.

So, as Jeff said, if you see a dress you like, for whatever reason, buy it and wear it in public! As a lady friend of mine put it, "Dresses are so damned comfortable!" No waistband cutting you in two.

And wear it with pride! Don't hide it under a jacket, unless it's chilly or completes the outfit, or a shirt, why would you want to do that?

You've crossed the Rubicon so now that you've come in for the penny, stay in for the pound!

Well said, pdx! As long as you are appropriately garbed for the surroundings you happen to be in and carry yourself proudly, it won't at all matter if you're wearing a dress. Meanwhile, I've contemplated wearing a gown to a social event, something I think would be a great deal of fun.

As a " Man in a Skirt " for many years , I find it interesting that many of my friends share my doubts concerning wearing dresses in Public......Perhaps this is because we have no experince of going out on the street as a " Man in a Dress ", thus we have no confidence in dressing in this different style of attire.

My subsequent success as a " Man in a Dress " does not convince me this is a way foward for me.The latest thoughts on becoming " a Man in a Tunic or a Robe " might be a greater success for me...

Does anyone share this view of a way foward....this suggestion would position me on the correct side of the Male v Female Isle ? ............weeladdie